ALLEN PARK — Dominic Raiola has been watching Calvin Johnson catch passes for seven training camps and six full seasons. It never gets old.

The Detroit Lions center said he’s amazed every day at the exploits of the wide receiver known as Megatron.

“You get more used to it now, but at the same time it’s ‘Damn, wow look at that catch.’ I can’t believe he’s the best in the world and he’s on my team,’’ Raiola said.

One reason he’s the best is his work ethic. Two plus hours of training camp wasn’t quite enough for Johnson on Sunday.

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He answered reporters questions on his way off the field, then instead of heading to the locker room he went back out on the field to catch a few extra balls from the Jugs passing machine.

Seriously.

Johnson, who set the all-time NFL receiving yards record last season, is always working on his game.

“For me being a taller guy it never really changes,’’ Johnson said. “You’ve got to work on your footwork, shorten up your stride, working on your hands at the line of scrimmage because guys have got to get their hands on you to stop you from getting down field.’’

He wows the training camp crowds along with his teammates and coaches.

Reggie Bush, who is seeing Johnson up close for the first time, calls him “a freak of nature.”

During a team drill on Sunday, Johnson was double-covered by cornerback Chris Houston and safety Glover Quin, two of the Lions’ top defensive backs. Of course, he stretched out and made the catch like they didn’t exist.

“I had to make that, I missed a couple early so I had to make up for it,’’ Johnson said.

It doesn’t matter that it’s just training camp.

“Any time things aren’t going right out there for me or I drop a pass, it’s real upsetting to me. It messes up practice a little so I have to come back and make a big play later,’’ Johnson said.

While lining up against him is great work for the defensive backs, Johnson said it’s helps him too.

“I love our defensive backs,’’ Johnson said. “I’ve been working with Chris (Houston) a long time, I love the fact that we get to work together every day. To me he’s one of the best in the league, getting to go against him just makes me better.’’

Johnson beat Houston on a sideline pass big-time on Saturday too.

“I’m all over him and still he’s so lengthy, when they threw the ball he just stretched out,’’ Houston said. “I’m like ‘Damn you got extra arms, Stretch Armstrong or something?’’’

“Ha, ha, ha. Why you ask me (what it’s like to go up against Johnson)? You’ve got to ask people on Sundays, it don’t count (here),’’ Bentley said. “It’s a blessing to line up in front of that man every day and just to compete. He’s going to bring the best out of you.’’

Not only is Johnson valuable for the defensive backs at camp, he makes all the wide receivers better. They just have to watch him, but he’s willing to help them out too.

Rookie wide receiver Corey Fuller said Johnson has been working with him in all areas including how to watch film.

“Every little detail of the game he’s helping me with,’’ Fuller said.

After Johnson, Nate Burleson and Ryan Broyles there are no locks to flush out the wide receiver group. Instead there’s good competition for the final two spots.

“Shoot about four or five guys at this practice today just randomly came up to me, and we were talking about the competition we have at the receiver position,’’ Johnson said. “One of the guys was joking ‘Man they’re going to get your spot.’ I was like, ‘Man, they keep me sharp.’’’

Always humble, always hard working.

“You guys know what he is like (in camp). He is going to go get the ball, he is going to go out of bounds, he is going to toe tap and he is going to dive,’’ coach Jim Schwartz said. “It is a pleasure to watch a guy like that practice. I think that, like I said before, he is one of the best players in the National Football League. He always goes out here and works like he is trying to make the team.”

(Follow @PaulaPasche on Twitter for live updates throughout training camp. Read her Lions Lowdown blog at oplions.blogspot.com.)